News - Soap Buzz

There are many changes happening right now behind the scenes at General Hospital. Already, there has been a new co-head writer put into place, and the bombshell news that fan favorite Steve Burton is coming home to Port Charles after his four-year stay in Genoa City, bringing along with him the million dollar question … will he be playing Jason Morgan, or someone else?

Add to the mix Rebecca Budig (Hayden) exiting the series, and William deVry’s (Julian) contract impasse, and things are definitely shaking out on the Daytime Emmy-winning drama series.

The man at the epicenter of it all is GH’s executive producer, Frank Valentini. We caught up with the head honcho at this week’s ABC TCA (Television Critics Association) all-star cocktail reception to get the low down on what to look for as we head into fall for some of your favorite characters, the comings and goings that will impact the show, and more.

Here’s what Frank offered up:

How do you feel about Jean Passanante’s decision to leave GH as co-head writer, and retire from writing soaps?

Photo Credit: Paley Center For Media

FRANK: I feel very, very sad. She sort of explained the circumstances of her life, and the timing for her was right. Her daughter is living in Europe, and she wants to be able to spend more time with her. Jean had worked hard for a really long time, and she wants to spend and have some time for herself. Being the head writer of a soap opera is an insanely demanding job. It’s never ending questions and headaches.

You now have promoted Chris Van Etten to co-head writer. What are your thoughts on that move?

FRANK: It’s exciting for me, because he used to be my assistant at One Life to Live. Chris is very bright, and knows and loves the show. He has been watching GH since he was 12-years-old. He just gets it. He gets GH, which is really exciting.

Do you think you have an interesting and intriguing creative balance between Shelly and Chris for the storylines moving forward on GH?

FRANK: Shelly is the head writer, and Chris is the co-head, so Shelly is going to sort of take all the stories we have in place now and move them forward. Chris will be there to support and help, and figure out plot-driven stuff and general direction. Then, they will start to write their own stories moving forward.

The big news, of course, is Steve Burton coming back to General Hospital. Is this something you were trying to make happen for awhile?

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

FRANK: When Steve left GH we were really sorry to see him go, but we knew it was a new opportunity for him, so we were excited for him. Steve and I have always stayed in touch, and we have seen each other at the Daytime Emmys. Of course, he has had a big year winning Outstanding Supporting Actor, and when he left Y&R he was thinking about coming back, and we were in touch, and we were able to make it happen. I think the most important thing for everyone to know and understand in regards to his return is that it changes the paradigm, and changes the dynamic of the show in such a way that it will create a lot more romance, a lot more intrigue, a lot more adventure, and all the stuff that you want from the show. And, as much as everyone wants to see everyone happy, they also want to see us mix things up, and that is what we are trying to do. We have some really interesting things that we are doing right now that are also mixing things up. The viewers are seeing Ava cross with Griffin (Matt Cohen), which is kind of cool. We just said goodbye to little Spencer (Nicolas Bechtel) on-air for another season, and now we will find out what impact his departure has on Kevin (Jon Lindstrom) and Laura (Genie Francis). Kirsten Storms (Maxie) is back on the show. Emme Rylan (Lulu) is back from her maternity leave, and Finola Hughes (Anna) is back from her vacation, and so it’s fun to have all the favorites back in the house.

Have you locked in, and decided on the storyline you are about to tell with Steve Burton back on the show? Many are predicting “The Tale of Jasons” story. The fans have some additional theories as well.

Courtesy/ABC

FRANK: We absolutely know what we are going to do. You can’t not know what you’re doing to do for several reasons: for business reasons, for what actor’s you are going to hire, and what kind of contracts you are going to put them under, and also for practical reasons in terms of getting the story written and laid out, and having it have a big pay-off.

Rebecca Budig wrapped-up her run as Hayden Barnes. Was it difficult for you to have to tell her she was exiting the show, when she is clearly a very popular star in the genre?

FRANK: It was really hard. All of her fans are obviously upset, and we empathize. We brought Rebecca on to the show in the first place. Hayden is a character the audience didn’t have a connection, or any familiarity with, but I just knew Rebecca would jump right in with the story we were telling two and half years ago, and make it really work. Rebecca and I are close friends. She is a phenomenal actress. She had great chemistry with Michael Easton (Finn). This story had come to a natural end. Hayden could return … you never know what the future holds.

Another hot button issue of late has been the contract situation and status of William deVry (Julian) and GH. Are you hoping to hash things out?

Photo Credit; JPI Studios

FRANK: I love Will. He and I get along really great. But at this point, it’s just a little bit up in the air. In terms of story, Julian may be doing time in jail, but hopefully it will all work out, and we can tell a really satisfying story for everyone. We want to make sure that we tell it in a way that is true, too, from both Alexis’s (Nancy Lee Grahn) side, and Julian’s side.

You recently brought Michael Sutton (Stone) back for the episode where Sonny is fighting to stay alive in a construction site pit, and is “visited” by Stone. Were you on the set that day watching Michael’s emotional reunion, and scenes with Maurice Benard (Sonny)?

Courtesy/ABC

FRANK: I was on the floor, but I was not directing that, because that week was extremely difficult, as I had to pay attention to the regular parts of my job. Michael was so lovely and fantastic. He is just a really special human being, and we were all really blessed to be in his company that day. Maurice’s wife, Paula, came to the set. We were off to the side holding hands and watching them work. Michael just re-charged that mini-arc of Sam (Kelly Monaco) shooting Sonny, which was so interesting, and so clever that the writers came up with. Kelly Monaco’s performances have been outstanding. It was just another way to revisit Sonny’s past, but also revisit the past of the show, and sort of remind the audience that we know, and we get it. We love those characters, too. Stone is dead, and there is nothing we can really do about that, but we brought him back for that day, and tried to squeeze as much emotion and as much “Stone-isms” into the episode. So it was fun, and we keep trying to do that. We have some really fun stuff coming up with Jackie Zeman, otherwise known as “J-Z”. I call her that. (Laughs) I love her so much, and also we will see Felicia (Kristina Wagner) and Mac (John J. York). We are always working so hard to keep the show moving forward, but also honoring the past, and honoring the recent past.

Maura West has been turning in gut-wrenching performances, one after the other, as the viewers have watched the fallout of Ava being badly burned in a fire. Will you continue to tell this story, and take the time with the beats of Ava’s journey?

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

FRANK: Ava is going to have a long journey ahead of her. I think a lot of people think she needs to pay for her crimes as well, and what she is going through now is really hard. Because Maura is that special kind of performer, she can show all the levels of shame, degradation, pain, humiliation, and the damage to Ava’s vanity. She plays it all in such a beautiful heart-breaking way that you can’t help but root for her. Ava’s daughter has been taken away, her beauty has been taken away, and it will be interesting to see her get it back, and what she does with it.

Finally, what can you give GH fans as a tease for what to watch for this fall?

FRANK: I think the show’s tease for fall is: you know who is coming back and you know what’s going on. Everybody has some big story!

So, what do you think will happen on-screen when Steve Burton returns? Will GH tell the “Tale of Two Jasons” with Billy Miller (Jason) on the canvas as well? What do you hope happens story to your favorite GH characters in storylines this fall, and the comments shared by Frank Valentini on the performances of Maura West and Kelly Monaco … or the contract impasse with William deVty, and exit of Rebecca Budig? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Steve always has been Jason, I like Billy……but it is time for Steve to reclaim “his” role…….Billy does not have a thing “stone cold” about him. He is not convincing when he does about Sonny’s business……Burton is in no way an “air Hog”….Billy is too soft looking to ever be ‘stone cold”……..Please bring Steve back, we have missed him!!!!

I agree, Miller has been horrible as Jason! Its like a great quarterback returning to a team he left via free agency, its just didnt work out for either of them so he is back home on the right team!

Matthew replied August 16th, 2017 at 10:43 pm

Billy Miller is a good actor, but he never really seemed to be able to fill Steve Burton’s shoes as Jason Morgan. Hopefully they can reveal his true identity in a believable way and possibly keep him on for a while but not as the real Jason.

Rolling my eyes so far back in my head they’re stuck. FV just doesn’t get it all all. He says Ava should pay ?? When the heck is Sonny going to pay ? Monica hasn’t been given a single line of dialogue where she drags Sonny/Carly for AJ’s death. We saw her smiling at them as guests at Ned’s wedding ? WTH? Sonny in the hole was LOL funny. His praying to God was insulting. The SOB hasn’t evolved in 20 yrs. It’s also high time GH quit with the non stop violence especially gun violence.
I’m so fed up with Sonny/Carly/Sam/Jason eating the show alive especially Sonny. Now they bring on another air hog in Burton.
The cast is already so bloated that the pacing sucks & many characters have no focus or airtime.. Firing Budig was a load of @$^& too. How can FV say her story ran its course ? After a year we were finally seeing some movement toward Hayden/Liz becoming close & Hayden/Finn are expecting a baby. Why make her a Webber & never bring back Jeff? Instead of firing her they need to get rid of the horrid Nelle & Nina.

Double second! Let me add also that as a viewer only one year past the coveted 18-49 demographic, this tendency to spend so much attention (and money) on older characters who are 45-50+ has really weakened the “middle” generation of GH that should be carrying the show in the romance department. They have tied up nearly every 30ish character except for Michael & Griffin (who is I think a boy genius and not even 30 yet). I get have older characters like Sonny, Anna, et al who are not doting old grandparents. But, whatever happened to the romantic quintets (Alan-Monica-Rick-Lesley + Susan) that used to be so awesome. That storyline bore fruit that we continue to see today. OLTL had happily married Karen Wolek become a prostitute, and she had to testify to in in open court! These were all characters that were the age of GH’s Elizabeth & Griffin. So, what kind of risks is GH doing today? Sonny shot for the 10th time in a hole….and Ask Man Landers. *snore* OMG – take some RISKS, GH!

Celia replied August 11th, 2017 at 6:38 am

That’s what I said, Scoma. Maybe he survived because God has something BIG in store for him. The black plague!!!!
Your first sentence is hilarious. LOL.

had it truly not been for this site. I would not have kept up with GH.

BALANCE GH – just – SOME – balance. the most lauded cast by posts.

Sonny and Carly don’t even know how to act anymore… it’s TOO MUCH.

I will continue to post… not one… NOT ONE character seeks out Carly and Sonny. for what ?

fun – couples dating – family outings – borrow money – even their siblings hide.. save more Michael… god… he’s tired. Nelle is just as blank as the rest of them.

Carly doing everything… needs to go for a long hiatus … there she was at the demolition site.. all wonderwoman.. then at the hospital.. running around . WHY ? for the blech of a man? Sonny ? this couple is so done.

I totally agree . I turn the show on, see its the same old BS, shut it off and go to the gym. This stupid show hasn’t improved since the killed AJ again. Every character is evil personified, and never pay. As for Stone cold, Y$R could keep him. Frank doesn’t really believe this BS he is spooting does he ?

Hayden story rans its course because Frank is done playing with her! He wants a new toy! Hayden hadnt even been scratched and we had to sit through all her BS and then finally they tease us with a possible Jeff Weber return and POOF!

What a load of crap! Her story was just getting good…
She was pregnant – what happens to the baby?
She was getting married – what happens to Finn?
She was getting close to her sister – story dropped.
She was Jeff’s daughter – they never met.
Etc – etc – etc!

if you’re so easily deterred from watching the show because Steve Burton is coming back, and Rebecca is gone, you weren’t much of a fan in the first place, regardless of the fact you watched it “since day 1″. This isn’t the first time this kind of thing has happened, and it won’t be the last. But if you’re done with it, fine. GH won’t miss you.

Timmm replied August 14th, 2017 at 4:02 am

Goodbye jann! dont need you! Burton left for different reasons. You probably never took chances in life. He did. Dont ridicule someone who isnt lazy and wont get off her damn couch! Welcome back Stone Cold!

Steve replied August 16th, 2017 at 9:42 am

Other actors have left to go to other shows and come back through the years. Notably, Kin Shriner, who first departed to go to the long defunct “Texas” soap. He shockingly returned to GH (pre-spoiler internet days) when Scotty caught the bouquet at Luke & Laura’s wedding. Over the past 40 years, he’s come and gone numerous times.

Genie Francis found work on AMC, DAYS and Y&R, but she was gladly welcomed home to GH. Jane Elliott also made soap rounds. Edward may not have been glad to see Tracy return, but I’d guess most viewers were.

I’d also bet that if Tyler Christopher leaves DAYS in a few years, he’d be welcomed back as Nik in a heartbeat.

Soaphound replied August 11th, 2017 at 9:59 am

Oh, katiek, I never thought that the day would come when I totally agree. For the first time, I’m fast-forwarding half the show and find myself rewriting the other half out loud. Pathetic. I always watch Billy Miller and Laura Wright because they’re my favorite actors, but where are Elizabeth, Franco, and so many others? Yes, Joss and Oscar are cute, but a romance with 14-year-olds isn’t my idea of fun. And don’t get me started on Man Landers. Pure idiocy. Then to find out Heaven and Earth are being moved, refinanced, and God knows what else to bring back Steve “One-Note”? Oy vey.

I absolutely 110% agree with you about Steve coming back! Billy has made “Jason” his own so why fix what isn’t broken! Steve chose to leave all those years ago and as far as I’m concerned he could’ve stayed home! I am not gonna stop watching the show though.

I am so with you. I had a tough time reading what Frank had said and I think Hayden has alot of story left to tell. She has ties to Elizabeth for God’s sake!!! I pray someone comes to his or her senses and keeps Hayden around.

They finally started to get the ball rolling with Hayden and then they cut her. What idiots! We had the possibility of her story with Liz , Jeff Weber coming home and I liked the guy who portrayed her dad and wouldnt it be cool for him to get sprung and strong arm Sonny?

Steve replied August 11th, 2017 at 5:30 pm

I haven’t always been Budig’s biggest fan, but I was extremely impressed with her performance on Friday’s episode. She tapped into all the emotions her character generated in the past 2 1/2 years. You saw the bad girl one moment, then the redeemed vulnerable woman in the next. If those were the last scenes with ME, they were extremely powerful.

I agree Steve. She has always been a good actress, the character was weak for so long and know they give her a bone to chew on and then swiftly take it away! Fans showed outcry over Wil possibly leaving GH, where are the fans for Rebecca?

How about a shocking twist…neither Steve nor Billy are the real Jason but still have Q blood and dna in them…turns out they are faternal twins of Jimmy Lee Holt, a Q who hasnt contacted the family in years…Jimmy knew he had twin sons but never talked about them because the boys mother fled with them to parts unknown…however, Helene found them, the mother was killed and she kept the boys a prisoner for years just like she done with Jake…she maybe gone(maybe not) but Helene had evil plans for the twins and now those plans are about to be unfolded!!!…lol

Wonderful interview Michael! Frank V. has such a demanding job, and he appears to really care about the show and the characters. I would really hope that he understands the audience..what they want and what they don’t. The show is in dire need of writing. I truly want to care about the characters and just when I become invested..which takes time…the writers cut the storyline. I really cared for Alexis and Julian but the story is cut short because of how they had Julian threaten to kill Alexis. I really cared for Finn and Hayden and her entire storyline with having Elizabeth as a sister, getting married and having a baby then BAM…she’s fired from the show. I loved the friendships between Jordan and Anna, Alexis and Diane, the father son relationship between Franco and Scott, but we don’t see them anymore. Thanks for listening.

SZ…oh, I agree. I didn’t care for (as you put it) St. Steve on GH the first time around…and I am NOT INTERESTED in ROUND TWO!!!!! N-o-p-e.

Take care.

Timmm replied August 14th, 2017 at 4:14 am

How do you know this? How much do you think Steve makes? FV sits on a mountain at GH, if he wants something it happens, I cannot see him unloading the bank for Burton. Jason coming back could be good. I have little faith in the writing but it could be entertaining. Give it a chance. Plus, if they were cutting the roster to save money, why not Nelle, Michael, Dante, Lulu, Nina , Jordan, Andre and Nathan? Those characters suck and bring zero drama to this daytime legend.

Momtude replied September 2nd, 2017 at 9:06 am

I’ve been watching for 40+ years. I want SB back as Jason. The pairing of BM and KM is so dull and uninspiring.

The new co-head writer gets GH, but the EP doesn’t. Frank has decimated the veteran cast, there isn’t much GH left. Van Etten has been watching since he’s twelve but he’ll be writing for Franco, Finn, Nina, Ava, Valentin and all the other new characters, so it doesn’t matter.

So ridiculously disingenuos to say Hayden’s story has come to an end when she’s pregnant and is engaged. I don’t particularly care if the character stays or goes but come on. And why is Easton still around? Hayden has come to an end but the father of her child and fiance is still needed? Gee I wonder why Mr. 25th character still has a job? Oh yeah, it’s that huge fan base that was never reflected in the ratings when he was gone or when he cam back. They’d be better off keeping Budig, she can actually act.

Don’t care if DeVry leaves, Julian is garbage, but he’s probably gone. An agreement couldn’t be made with Tyler either, yet Howarth comes waltzing back onto the show after walking. What negative impact has his absence had on story or ratings? Nothing. The demo was below 400K last he was on and it hasn’t gone down any further.

And also what crap about honoring the past but moving forward. Giving Mac & Felicia a silly cameo is an honor? Why aren’t GH icons Felicia and Mac on GH? The absolutely stunning Kristina Wagner & the oh so handsome John J. York. Guess what Frank? Howarth pushing 50, playing a recast Franco like Todd a 25 year old OLTL character is the past.

I agree that our legacy..veteran actors should have more screentime.Still waiting to see Laura/Genie’s storyline that was brought to a complete halt several months ago.Not so happy that a deal could mot be made on Tyler Christopher’s renewing conract,and we lost him to Days now.Its very upsetting,and miss Nikolas.I do like William Devry,and hope he returns soon.I hope tgey rethink letting Rebecca go..Love her.I do like Roger H.He is an outstanding actor,and am liking him with Liz..Domething soecial happening there.I love Jason/Billy Miller,and Kelly/Sam..I think that their chemistry is amazing,and can’t see them having amother Jason..crazy..Billy is all the Jason we need.Why mess with a good thing that works.Their fan base is huge..are very well loved.I do hope SB will be doing a doctor role ,or someone affliated with the mob..We have our Jason now!!

CC replied August 10th, 2017 at 8:57 pm

Well damn why bother watching?

Rebecca1 replied August 11th, 2017 at 3:43 am

Yep. That’s his way of saying out with the old; in with the new. And I TOTALLY agree. The “cameos” of Mac and Felicia are insulting. Inane, ridiculous. I’m all for levity but that’s all they’ve reduced these characters to. Mac doesn’t even seem like Mac…and having them look like fools to Nathan and Valerie and having t defend themselves to Auntie Stella was cringe-worthy.

Neither Mac nor Felicia should have disappeared in the first place. Both beautiful characters inside and out.

nancy dillingham replied August 11th, 2017 at 3:48 am

Agree re Kristina and John. Magnetic, exciting characters who can “leaven” with humor. And they are legacy characters.

Celia replied August 11th, 2017 at 6:48 am

True, MB, but, for those of us who are ‘new’ watchers, that ‘sexual’ stunt was entertaining in its absurdity—great comedic break, out of left field, pardon the pun.
So, as much as I appreciate your affront for reducing favorite vets in this manner, I loved it—in the eye of the beholder and all that stuff; sorta, kinda.

Rhonda replied August 12th, 2017 at 10:29 am

Yeah, the Mac and Felicia stunt was condescending as all hell.
They treat them like their two cute senior citizens engaging in a little hanky panky. They’re not that old! And even if they were, they deserve to be treated with more respect.
I guess Frank and the writers think they’re being kind trotting out this forgotten fan favorite couple, but it was insulting and disrespectful
Give them their own storyline. Don’t use them as props for that idiotic Ask Man Landers story.

Shay replied August 13th, 2017 at 8:07 pm

@CeeCee….I’m with you on the Mac and Felicia moment…it was cute, funny, harmless! And I found it refreshing that a couple who has been through so many ups-and-downs together over the decades can still be quite obviously sweet on one another! At least this is a real romance between two adults with documented history on its side…it’s actually relatable to those of us who have watched these characters through the years, unlike the flimsy fiction upon which that pitiful premise which predicated the pairing of Julian and Alexis was based!!!

Timmm replied August 14th, 2017 at 8:31 am

Roger gets tons of money and he wasnt missed and he has no relevant story anyway!

FV and RC were amazing on OLTL and the first three years on GH. However, FV clearly thinks he’s building a mega / hybrid soap with actors who STILL play their previous popular characters from their old soap operas. The ratings the last few months clearly show that the hybrid / mega soap theory is NOT working and it is time to cut the cord with a few more characters (Nina, Franco/Todd, Hayden, Finn, etc) that are not needed on this show. If FV was serious about fixing the show then why are the HW not GH writers with long term history? Why constantly turn GH over to OLTL writers who clearly don’t know the long term history and makeup stuff on the fly or change it every few weeks?!

When I hear “the story had come to a natural end”, I say, “that’s a load of sh*t”. Sonny’s story has come to what one could consider a natural end, numerous times. Ava’s story has done the same thing. But here’s the thing – soaps are a continuing drama; the point is, the stories continue, lives continue, a particular story may end, but the overall ongoing story of their lives continues. I have no connection to Hayden, so gone or not, doesn’t concern me one bit. But let’s not pretend it simply came down to a story ending. If the charater was popular, if you had the budget, if any number of things, Hayden would remain on the canvas.

And at the end of the day, how come TPTB don’t reallize that the biggest resurgence in viewers they had the last sevearl years was when they made Sonny and Carly share equal screen time with the other characters in Port Charles, AND stopped making them the end all be all of the show. The ongoing focus on them (and Jason and Sam) took the show to almost cancellation numbers until the show was refocused to split story time amongst the whole cast – when Sonny and Jason stopped being the ‘immoral moral centers of the show’, when Jason’s hero status was threatend by other strong male characters, and when Sonny stopped being the man that all GH women seemed to want to sleep with – or had already. That ‘experiment’ lasted for a couple of years until Sonny and Carly moved to the forefront again, putting some of the most blatant hyprocisy imaginable on the screen (yes, we are part of a criminal enterprise but we are good criminals and as such, we can judge the moral value of other criminals) , and the repitiion of stories for them began anew. It’s the same thing year after year after year – it’s one thing to repeat stories on a show with different characters here and there, but it isn’t a good thing when the same basic stories keep getting recycled for the SAME characters from year to year. Sonny and Carlly breakup, reuinte, sleep with one another, fight about the mob, Carly gets high and mighty about the danger, Sonny cries poor me, something bad happens to Sonny, and all is forgiven, rinse and repeat for the next year.

There is a ton more that could be written for Hayden, they just dont want her around! Just like Nick Cassadine, having that character on would be great, especially with Valentin but they deem it unnecessary.

Less of Sonny/Carly/Burton-Jason and more of other characters. So many lost opportunities to showcase the great talent that this show has in favor of All Mob All The Time. I suppose we’ll never be rid of it.

Reading between the lines of his interview and deVry’s, I’d really be surprised if we see WdV back on the show. They were both extremely careful in their wording — almost like it was a mutual decision.

I will disagree with Frank, Hayden’s end story was rushed and not natural. I’m sure the writers wouldn’t have made her pregnant if they knew she was leaving.

West has been phenomenal and Monaco has stepped up her game, big time.

Can’t see W. DeV nor Maura remaining on the show. No redemption for either–no matter how much suffering an “mask-wearing” they put Ava through. She’s evil and not believable–and, that cardinal sin, melodramatic. Aloha and adios.

I liked that Rebecca could be returning,and I hope soon,and also hope William returns very soo and jail time a short one.I agree that Maura is a faboys actress ..love her as Ava.and storyline.I already miss Jon,and Genie,and Nicholas,but hope Genie,and Jon won’t be away very long.Genie is a personal fav for decades,and she is also an outstanding actor.Please give her the big storyline promised that was brought to a complete halt many months ago..Kelly Monaco has also been killing it along with Billy Miller.Their chemistry is over the top.They set the screen on fire..As Jason,and Sam Morgan they have everything it takes ,and more .I think Steve was fine as Jason,but Billy Miller has brought much more to the character ,and only Jason Morgan I care to watch.Kelly/Sam&Billy / Jason are pure magic …perfection!!!!

I have to say that even though I am most crushed by losing Rebecca Budig, I am looking forward to some of the stories with Ava and her struggles and a few other storylines. My lowest expectation is with the return of Steve Burton. I just don’t get what his power is. Some love him and think he walks on water but I don’t. He is just a miss for me. I want to say more but I will be fair and give him the benefit of the doubt. Seriously though, I am completely in the Billy Miller camp. That man is fire. If they are planning on eventually phasing him out I will be very upset. The hard part is that General Hospital has lost some MAJOR actors. Jane Elliot retiring was a hard hit. Rebecca Budig is another major loss. I just don’t want GH to become the Steve Burton show. He is not strong enough as an actor to carry that show. I have to say I am loving the innocence of the dating story with Joss and Oscar. It’s actually sweet to see love grow instead of turning Joss into the harlot of Port Charles. The last thing I want to see is her being all hoochie mama as a teenager. The sweetness of this story is the way the innocence is portrayed. Oscar is totally adorable and believable as a first love for Joss. Losing Spencer for the rest of the year is hard. I want to see the Cassadine story grow. I like Valentin as a character. His love for Nina is refreshing especially for a “villain”. Nina’s confusion is believable because of her past experiences. I want to see more hospital story. Kiki going to school to become a doctor is good. I have really grown to like the actress who portrays her. She is starting to fit in the role. I look forward to what GH has in store but I truly would like to see many of the missing characters have some story. GH has a killer cast and I want to see them all given great things to do.

Sad to say, I haven’t missed Jane Elliot; sad to say, she just wasn’t the character that she used to be in her classic run; that is to say, until “Tracy” literally “ran” into the character that used to be “Luke” and literally turned into another forgettable character–overblown and forced into a mold the character clearly didn’t fit.
One caveat: I’ve certainly missed the SKILLS of Jane Elliot; but, unfortunately, she had to twist and turn her character into someone unrecognizable.

Steve’s last year on Y&R, he acted and well. They had a hell of a time fiquring out what to do with him. His exit story was pretty good. Joss and Oscar are a breath of fresh air. GH struggles with the teen scene but they are on to something here. Spencer will return with his dad, I predict. Kiki is cute and the actress is getting better. I never heard her have a desire to be a doctor so its a bit odd? Valentin is gold. I want him with Anna!

as I’ve explained before… she deadpans… in comes dead Sonny to kingpin his manhood for what it’s worth’less. and “Jason” interrupts with who are you talking to ? are you alright ? Sam comes to and makes a hasty exit and or excuse. end of story.

so now she’s spending all her time trying to drum up memory lapse… bwah bwah bwah

what EVER !

this is ALL so laughable. Billy Miller isn’t doing that much in the arena of care; I love you; whats my wife going through. his only work is when he’s roughing up someone… that’s the sexuality he brings

superwoman Carly : GOD isn’t she sick of Sonny yet. to the rescue she goes. all that sick of them airtime. who effin cares

Frank Valentini … YOU PLAN TO MIX IT UP

less is more when it comes to the dullard… which includes you and Shelley. Jean writing is dead

Who knew all that GH needed to do to clear out the bloated case was bring back Steve Burton how come none of us thought of that ? Yep once Mama Bear JFP got shown the door he runs back to GH comical actually I never thought Billy Miller really fit the role of Jason but also not interested in what I am afraid is going to be the tale of two Jason’s.

I think TPTB needs to clean house, anyway, but not to make room for Steve Burton. There are too many recurring actors, new actors, etc., that are introduced to us one day, and then dropped/not to be seen again for weeks or months. Agreed, not interested in Steve Burton’s return, “The Tale of Two Jason’s,” or the “Carson” Show to be played 24/7.

Tale of Two Jason’s? I like it. We could call it The Revenge of Stone Cold.
Stonecold could be some dark superhero/villain and his Robin would be the first Michael. You know that red headed, bastard step son of Sonny’s who was shot in the head and went into a coma? Angry that they’ve been replaced by shiny, happy imposters, original Michael and Stonecold could reek havoc on the town of Port Charles.
Someone call the costume department.

I have no idea what we are supposed to be excited about. Frank Valentini is a joke of a producer as far as I’m concerned. Then again, I know he’s not completely in charge like Gloria Monty and Wes Kenney were back in the day. But still, he’s not doing anything to make things he can control better.

Me neither, Nancy! Perhaps if such energies were directed toward someone other than the too-willing Alexis it would be more palpable, not to mention, palatable! The “ick factor” with those two is simply too great to overcome!

Sorry, I disagree totally about Rebecca Budig’s exit. From what I see the fans, including myself, love seeing her no matter who she plays. That’s just drivel. Big mistake. Seems like many fans don’t really care about Steve Burton any more. My guess is his return will not be as celebrated as TPTB seem to think. I am excited about the new co-headwriter as he worked on the best soap ever OLTL, but to say he gets GH is kind of funny because most of us out here in TV land are having a very hard time ‘getting’ GH lately. We shall see.

Auntie Stella needs a diversion—tight arse, that she is!!! How about Andre’? Or Finn?
Busy body.
Curtis is a grown man. This storyline borders on the ridiculous. Star-crossed lovers at this age? Gimme a break!! Dumb!!

Spencer (NicolasJBechtel) had a great summer with all of the characters, especially with Grandmother Laura- Genie Francis. I look forward to seeing him visit again. I don’t know exactly what Frank means re “how it will impact Kevin and Laura” other than open up Laura (Genie Francis) to a Lead Actress story line showing strong, street smart, brave Laura that will captivate the audience. We’ve all been waiting for her to get a story worthy of her and stop teasing us with little glimpses. Jon isn’t on contract and that drives his fans crazy, makes everyone wonder if Frank is serious about keeping them as a couple and giving them a big front burner story. They really should be elevated in status due to Talent, Legacy, History etc. GH needs a Leading Lady w/ Connection to General Hospital, Laura fits bill w/ Parents, she worked there and is now on The Board. She’s been heroine of PC, New York & World more than once, saved the hospital and crime fighter, Mayors wife and business woman. Her Sig. other is noted/respected Psychiatrist. They should be lead family. She can fight killer Cassidines, Matriarch, Historian, get GH back to status it once had when Steve Hardy ran it before the Cassidines tried to take it down.
One comment re Emme’s return, childbirth is wonderful but it isn’t a vacation.

So totally agree! Give Laura and Kevin a story that does not involve sitting across from Lulu listening to her babble or playing back up to Spencer
I don’t see how Spencer leaving will affect their relationship. We didn’t see much of it when Soencer came to town other than Kevin supporting Laura and Spencer. We have yet to even see their home.
I do hope we see much less of Sonny and Company. The shows are much better when they are not on. Sonny needs his own 30 minute spin off dhow

YES, sick and tired of hearing the incessant, spoiled, and annoying Lulu babble! I have felt that way since Emme took over the part of Lulu. She acts like a petulant, immature, little sister, not a married woman, mother of two.

Patrick replied August 10th, 2017 at 8:21 pm

“…Jon isn’t on contract and that drives his fans crazy, makes everyone wonder if Frank is serious ”

here here… for as long as I could stand his antics… LOVE watching Genie Francis getting her ‘own” family nucleus… w/ Spencer and Kevin.

That Spence does drive

it was a pure joy and delight to see Laura with her own brood.

with all these plans Kevin was making for Laura and Spence to move in with him.

August tease… we shall see come fall… just how serious Frank and Shelley are

I’m with you, Rose. “Open up Laura (Genie) to a lead actress story line.” Agree that “Laura” is strong, street smart, and brave.” Always captivating–and often funny!
Romance and humor–couldn’t we us a LOT of that???

Laura handled Spencer and that was good. She actually tried to parent the young brat. Sadly, GH will not ever write for Laura the way the fans want. Genie will have to go to Y&R where they feature veteran actors and do it well!

su0000, I agree with you over Steve Burton’s return-not excited or enthusiastic in the least and I have watched since 1984. I remember Jason Quartermaine and was a fan of Jason Quartermaine not Jason Morgan. I have never been a fan of Maxie; although, I do like Nathan (solo, and perhaps with another love interest-not Amy). I prefer Julie Marie Berman over Emme Rylan’s Lulu, ANYday!

Why does Ava need to feel shame and be burned and turned into a ghoul and pain for her crimes, while Sonny has roamed around Port Charles without paying for his?? GH will only become GH again when Sosnny is killed off!!

….because Sonny holds some kind of crystal ball, Jovin….don’t you know? He is now “friends” with God.
In finding Griffin, falling into a pit, and talking to an apparation ; Sonny has found God, who gave him absolution to kill and plunder and scheme, at will.
Ava is simply a Jerome who cannot hold a candle to a Corinthos. There is a higher standard among mobsters. Sonny simply has more notches in his belt and on his bed-post.
Love Ava….hope she stays forever….with Nik C/Nick Stabile.

dmr…me, too. As far as I’m concerned, those two LOWLIFES Sonny and Carly bring NOTHING to GH…PERIOD!!!!!

Later.

Jacob replied August 20th, 2017 at 5:07 am

I’ve been sick of Sonny and Carly for 15 years. I actually stopped watching for about a decade because of how sick I am. There really is a bit more balance these days than there was back then, but, for me, any Sonny an Carly is too much. Wish the show would give them a rest.

the only thing i’m really bummed about is rebecca budig being taken of the show, i’m hopeful she will come back since Frank Valentini himself said she could come back, also really hope steve burton coming back will involve more then the usual forrsome, i.e( carly, sonny, sam,and nujason) if they turn this storyline all about those four then this story will be an epic fail as far as i’m concern.

Recently got into my own family’s genealogical history through Ancestry.com. It made me see the ebb and flow within a family’s history, and how certain “original” legacy family member’s start to thin out. It’s got to be a challenge for writers of soaps like GH to deal with this over the years.

So I’m trying to reconcile not having GH just revolve around the Q’s, Cassadine’s, and others anymore. And accept the old with newer characters to Port Charles. But also hope they minimize Sonny/Carly focus. It has been too much.

Will miss Hayden/Rebecca, but there was the teaser from Frank that Hayden could return. Like seeing Kiki, who wasn’t very popular her first few years in PC, now possibly becoming a doctor. And there would have been no Ava, Leisel, even Sam, etc.

I do want deVry to stay. Looking for the creativity of the writers to get him out of the corner they put Julian in. Sorta want him with Alexis…liked their good moments…but I still have the visual image of the dagger at her throat that bothers me. So will see. And as for Alexis, I still have faith in her, but it will take a while and good story to learn from her mistakes, embrace her strengths, and move on.

More more, more of Laura/Kevin, Olivia/Ned, and Felicia/Mac.

As for Spencer, changed my mind on him and look forward to seeing him return. Especially since one of his last lines to Valentin was taken from one of my favorite movies, “PrincessBride”…”My name is Spencer Cassadine…you killed my father…prepare to die.”

I even have time for the way GH is taking the Amy/Nathan, now Maxie, Man Landers story. We need a little levity, imo, especially in this day and age. And the Curtis/Aunt Stella story. Recently caught a rerun of “Fresh Prince Of Belair.” Thought Will Smith’s mom, Vy, looked familiar….she’s Verneee Watson, or Auntie on GH. Plus she’s on Big Bang.

All soaps have an ensemble cast and should all be part of the stories…GH should be about the Qs. Cassidines and Corintho families and those not part of these families should also be front and center with them…too much Corinthos and Nina…all cast should get equal time…here you have Julian/Alexis in a major story involving her daughters at various times but you dont really see Julian’s son Lucas…Lucas and Brad need more airtime…the show focus too much on Griffen and Finn like they are the only doctors in the entire hospital!!!

LOL…they ARE the only doctors in the hospital! Well, except Monica who whisks by with words of wisdom and hopefully Dr. Max Holden aka James Depaiva aka I don’t remember what his GH name is. Oh. Dr. O. Is she or isn’t she still on the show. She just kinda faded out while promising her next devious plan….

Steve replied August 10th, 2017 at 11:38 pm

As for legacy, Hayden is carrying the great grandchild of Steve Hardy. Why haven’t we seen Elizabeth take Hayden to Steve’s picture in the lobby and tell her their grandfather would be proud she’s looking after the hospital’s finances. Blown opportunity.

I’ve resigned myself to the fact we will never see Jeff Webber on this show again. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the brief appearance of Raymond Berlin. That was a relationship I would have liked to seen mined more. The actor has presence and would be a good love interest for Monica or Liesl.

Steve…Plus Elizabeth has her own sons as Hardy legacy. Knowing soaps they could start aging them for next summer.

Steve replied August 13th, 2017 at 7:54 am

They kind of put themselves into a quandary with SORASing Elizabeth’s kids. Cameron has been established as a rival of Spencer. Nicholas Bechtel, despite limited availability, has pretty much locked down the role of Spencer. If Cam gets aged to 16, it’s not like he’ll have a rivalry with a 12 year old. They’ll also never age Emma, as Brooklyn will probably grow in the role just as KMc did.

Jake seemed to de-age when Hudson West assumed the role.

Josslyn was SORASed, as was Molly, both of whom were born on screen years after Cameron.

Throw in Becky’s ageless beauty and it looks like her boys will stay boys for a while.

Steve…Good points! But since we are programmed to “suspend belief” you never know. Just look with what they did with Caine’s twins on Y&R this summer. And with Jake…he’s a cross between Hardy and Quartermaine.

Timmm replied August 14th, 2017 at 9:22 am

Julian and Alexis should date others and THEN sometime down the road fall back in love. Is Parker Bi? Maybe her and Julian. I would love to see Kristina seethe!

I wish he had addressed Billy Miller’s role in all of this. You have an amazing three time Emmy winner apparently being pushed aside for Steve Burton’s return. Billy and Kelly are soap perfection and we do not want to lose their pairing. This is very frustrating to Killy fans.

not a steve burton fan or the jason character but he’s now a two time emmy winner, lol, and billy miller extended his contract so he is staying on the show, if he felt like he wasted his time playing this character only to have it taken away, then i would think he would of bolted, surely he was presented with some idea of what the show is planning and thought it was worth sticking around. just saying…

Rebecca Budig’s story isn’t coming to it’s natural end. It is a mess & a insult to the viewers.
Emme Rylan was not on vacation. She had a baby & didn’t take additional leave other than the weeks the show was shut down (maybe a week at most).
If Steve Burton is written as the “real Jason”, that too is an insult to the viewers & Billy Miller.l

They can share Kelly, Keffen. One big, happy family.
I wonder, if Helena ‘played’ with Jason #2′s mind and is really not Jason….to clear things once Burton returns; perhaps, a DNA testing will be in order….who is Danny’s Daddy?

Hayden has become my favorite character. She has so many stories to explore. Why make her Liz’s sister only to have her go away. She had great chemistry with both Nicolas and Finn and made a slow and believable transition from “bad” girl to a sympathetic character. To say her story came to a natural end is a crock. So instead of having new stories exploring her character we’re going to rehash the same old Sonny and Carly and Jason stories that we are sick to death of. The way to keep viewers is to keep it fresh and new instead of same old same old

Steve left gh to follow Jill to Y&R. Shocker when she gets fired, he decides not 2 stay at Y&R. Then he wins an Emmy for his role at Y&R, thanks Maurice (Sonny, GH) not the one he worked with on YR
Where’s Jill at? Hope he follows her to where she goes next, GH was more than fine with out him.
Use the actors that are loyal to gh,
Bring back Rebecca Budig, Hayden ,get the contract straightened out, with will (Julian)& stop fanning the fan wars. Steve will not do a thing for gh except make more not watch…

I love GH. Been a fan for over 20 years. I really disagree with letting Rebecca Budig go. She’s awesome. Been a fan of hers since AMC. It took a while for Hayden to develop but now that she has, and has a great story line with Fin and Liz starting, why get get rid of her? Huge loss and waste of talent.

I hope he misspoke but its astonishing….maternity leave is like a vacation?

The characters reactions I’m interested in re Steve Burtons return is Current Jason, Liz and Sam. I am going to have to turn off the set when Carly and Sonny are with him as they will be chewing the scenery apart.

And the remark that Rebecca Budigs exit is bc her story came to a natural end is such BS. If that’s the case then why isn’t Michael Easton leaving as well? Their characters are getting married. They could ride off into the sunset together. I like him a lot but MEs character has even less connection to the show than RBs does. What is this all about? I’m just hoping she is given an exit that doesn’t trash the growth she’s made although what we are seeing now has me worried.

I really want the show to be good as I’ve watched soaps since I was little. Please get help with the writing. It is everything.

I hope that Steve doesn’t take over the role of Jason. I love Billy Miller so much better. I personally wish he wasn’t coming back. No defense to the actor but I am not a fan. Billy made Jason his own and made him more likeable than stone cold. I also don’t like the fact that Rebecca Budig was let go. I don’t buy FV reason because her story was just beginning. Instead of bringing Steve Burton back why don’t they bring Nick Stable back as Nicholas.

I tried to get back into the show when burton left because before he left it was the sunny-Jason- Carly-Sam show. I came back to see some thing new and its recently gone back to the same bull and with Steve coming back it will be even worse, say bye bye to my ratings. my house counts for Nielsen ratings. I’ll just go back to watching the food network at this time.

Basically he said a whole lot of nothing. Rebecca/Hayden’s story did not come to an end; the powers that be ended it. She’s pregnant, she’s Liz’s sister, she’s marrying Finn, she’s friends with Curtis, she works at the hospital…there was so much more story to tell.

As for DeVry, I hope he’s staying but I got the feeling it might just be a return to wrap things up. Which I would hate….

Sounds also that they have no intention, ever, of bringing back core characters. They’re looking ahead while trying to appease their older viewers with an occasional visit from a vet..be it Mac, Felicia, Lucy, dead or alive ala Stone.

With that said, the show has been on for decades and it’ll never be what it once was. The few vets that are left can’t carry the show. The WSB is gone. That was Anna, Robert, Sean, Frisco…it’s not going to be revived. It can’t. Same for the Q’s, the Spencers, the Webers. Had they not decimated many of the characters from these families we’d at least have the families continue on, but stupid decisions were made.

Even so, I do like a lot of the newer characters. I love Ava’s journey but do hope she takes Valentin’s offer (which I had mentioned previously, given the “miracle” that was performed for him). I love Dillon and Kiki. Jocelyn and Oscar are the epitome of that first crush…so cute together…. I think it’s great we’re seeing more of Monica (though it’s beyond ridiculous she never sees Jason) and hope to see more of Olivia and Ned.

I hate that Rebecca is leaving. NO good reason for it. I don’t care that Burton is returning. He’s a good actor but not needed. Don’t care about DeVry’s character on the show. Emme was not on vacation, Valentini, she was on maternity leave. You think that’s a vacation?? Am I wrong? Did she not just have a baby? yes, at first most audience members did not like Hayden, but they grew to really like her. If you were going to remove her, it should have been done when we didn’t like her. Boo hiss. Unless the Steve is going to be Finn’s new love life, there i s no reason to remove Hayden/Rebecca. And since he may read this- how about giving the people you supposedly (ha!) care about- Monica, Bobbie, etc. some decent stories and more to say. I love Mac, he is on less than Spencer.

I’m in disbelief that you would try a story line with 2 jasons I don’t think this is gonna help the show GH ratings I’ve been watching since I was 8 yrs old you changed the opening of GH why don’t know it’s just not the same GH Is a hospital & which the opening the ambulance would show that aslo you made GH a mob storyline which I don’t know why you even did that & it’s very stale Steve burton & billy miller are great actors but I prefer billy & kelly character together more then I do with Steve. I’m sorry but billy miller & kelly Monaco have amazing chemistery together & if you break them up you will loose a big of your fan base & ratings will go down I wouldn’t go to far writers & GH boss.

Really, Jovin? Where did you hear that.?
Golly gee, I proposed, a while back, that Nelle was Nina’s daughter, and Kiki’s twin.
Oh, oh,….be still mine heart!!! Could it be really true??

Steve replied August 11th, 2017 at 7:34 am

That potential storyline went away when they killed Silas off. Also, the bond between Ava and Kiki has grown. The possibility of Nell being Nina’s daughter could be explored, but the anvil dropped this week that Nell, herself, has a child out there. Perhaps Felicia will find that out in her investigation.

Where do you guys get all this stuff? Fill me in…
But, but, Steve….Kiki could still be Ava’s daughter. It’s a soap.
I can’t dismiss MadMaddie and her deviltry towards Nina. She could have given one baby to Ava and another to whomever.
Plus, (not that it is of any consequence) when Ava had cancer and Finn was taking care of her, Kiki’s blood type did not match hers. He absconded with Avery, whose btype did match.
I know it’s neither here nor there, as Kiki could have her father’s btype…..but, my brain latched onto that.
Both girls are tall and lanky, very similar to Nina. Everything about them bespeaks Nina.

Frank needs to listen to the audience and not drive his own agenda. He needs to stop this “mixing it up crap” because nobody is asking for it. I was looking forward to Steve’s return. The GH I knew and grew up with no longer exists.

I like all the storylines right now. I even like Hayden’s so I am hoping she will come back. I am so excited for Stevens’s return and excited to se how it all plays out with Billy. I love the julexis chemistry however it’s a work in progress to fix his character so hopefully that will be repaired some how. I’ve been a fan of GH for over 50 yeas keep it coming! I was ask a big ole fan so that is good news to hear about the new cowriter.

I was never a fan of Rebecca Budig, on AMC, or on GH. I didn’t think her character on GH, Rachel/Hayden had a lot of chemistry with the other characters/actors, and I thought she was thrown into scenes and storylines that she didn’t belong in-in hopes of propping up the character. With all of that being said, her exit storyline is even WORSE than her entrance storyline. WHO CARES about her past, when she has no future in Port Charles? This is just a waste of time and resources that could be spent elsewhere. SMH!

You know, I am not one of the fans who complains all the time. I see them mostly on the soapcentral boards and I actually think it’s horrible. I can always find something to like.

But I’m starting to turn. First of all I don’t like being lied to. No one with any sense believes Hayden’s story came to a natural end…it was just beginning. Perhaps more importantly I have to say I’ve finally had enough of Sonny. I used to wave my hand at those who complained about Sonny, because they were so anti-mob, and anyone who has watched since the early Luke days knows the Mob has long been a part of GH. But he’s been on every day. I am so tired of him. Carson as a couple don’t make sense, and talk about a story having reached it’s natural end. I love LW, but I hate Carson and I am sickened by Sonny, I can’t stand looking at him.

And while I am not a fan of Sbu I have no issue with them bringing him back if it helps ratings, but I know this means even more Sonny, if that were even possible. I’m getting close to being done and I never thought I’d say that.

I hear you. You shouldn’t have to find something to like. The show should be that good that you want to watch it–and not just out of habit. The show is for fans to dip in and out of as stories, decades move on but when there’s nothing new to look forward to and there hasn’t been something good for a long while, there is something wrong. And I agree with you on all of your likes/dislikes and perspectives–every word.

The crime storylines do go back. But even then there was a balance. We had Webbbers and Qs and plenty more folks who didn’t exist in the world of the mob. There’s no balance today. And there’s been no balance for a very long time.

I like so many other characters and stories. So I fast forward through everything Sonny. That’s when I realized how much screen time he burns up. Three episodes a week and four or five scenes each episode. Its not the new characters who squeeze out Laura etc. It’s sonny and Carly and a full year of Morgan Morgan Morgan. Through episodes a week, four scenes an episode and the pages were either what happened to Morgan or Morgan is why I can’t be with you.

Two Jason’s? No, that would be Sonny and Jason times two.

I so wanted Jeff Webber to return and for Heather to be released. If Sonny can spend five days in jail for murdering AJ, then Heather and Steven Lars should have been released years ago.

I agree with you about focusing on the good. My FF button works beautifully.

Cathy, While I’ve never been a fan of Rebecca Budig, Frank’s comment regarding Rebecca was text book political. The storyline did not come to a natural end. The ending is awful. The viewers do not care about Hayden’s past-a past that was written and talked about off-air, a first husband with no ties to Port Charles, and an accident that has no relevance to the present. It’s a waste of air-time and resources that could be spent elsewhere.

The important thing to Remember…is that while the mob has had a presence on GH pre-Sonny… but they were always presented as the villains, and he had guys, the criminals. Not as the heroes and heroines, not as the “moral centre” of the show. I get physically disgusted every time I See Sonny on my tv screen. The greasy hypocrisy, the complete lack of heart and soul, the smug arrogance, the misogynistic ploys for sympathy. I think of all the actors who have lost jobs, and all the characters who have died at the mighty hand of Sonny. It is sad. Sad that the Executive Producer is so out of touch with the fanbase. Does FV not read message boards?? Sonny is polarizing…but for every ten posts by people who loathe the character, there is maybe one posit

Precisely, Jovin! Frank Smith and his minions were never presented with any sort of moral ambivalence…they were the bad guys, period! The only one who initially deviated from that mode was Luke, who eventually came over to the side of right—even though he often straddled the fence with his somewhat questionable law-skirting tactics—-and remained there until the revolting revisionism that brought us the puke-inducing Fluke. On the other hand, Sonny has been complete scum from Day One, yet he’s been painted a some sort of good guy/romantic hero to be emulated and praised to the hilt. I’ve never understood the attraction to this character by those who seemingly hold him in thrall…he sickened me from the start and that sensation has only increased with the passing years of his overwhelming omnipresence on and usurpation of the Port Charles canvas.

Nonsense, Hayden’s story had not come to a natural end. She and Elizabeth were just getting to know each other as sisters, and there was great potential for more Webber family stories. Hayden and Curtis are great friends and could have had more adventures together. And she and Finn were about to have a baby. Plus Rebecca Budig is a phenomenal actress who could have handled any story line or actor pairing.

Steve Burton’s return, IMO, will be too disruptive. I understand the attention GH is getting from fans and critics regarding his – yet undisclosed – story line or character is important for the show. These days, soaps need all the attention and ratings they can get. If he returns as the “real” Jason and they do a ridiculous twin story ala OLTL’s Todd Manning, they’ll be sorry. This time around, Billy Miller is the better actor and has done a terrific job as both Jake and Jason. And if he’s coming back as entirely new character, I say enough already! GH is bloated with talented people who need and deserve more air time.

Too disruptive? Its a soap, its always going to be disruptive or its boring! Steve and Billy are equals as actors. They both have their gold but neither one knocks my socks off. If I were GH, I would give Steve a new character. He did the Stone Cold thing well but he probably wants a new challenge and Billy Miller is staying so lets just leave it at that. And remember, yes, PC residents will accuse NuJason of looking like Jason Morgan but what the hell, Michael Easton has played 5 million characters on this show already!

Huge mistake letting Rebecca Budig go! Could’ve had a great storyline with her giving birth!
We are going to miss all of that. Would’ve been great to see her go through pregnancy and give birth after livin as she did for so long. Another missed opportunity! Add it to the long list of GH mistakes. Also I know people are sparring over steves return but let’s not forget he created this roll and he and Billy’s larger than life presence leaves room for only one Jason! I for one am happy he is back.

Yeah, I know, dmr.
Valentin will ‘escort’ Ava in taking her first step towards her ‘long journey’. As I had guessed, she will barter what she knows for the restoration of her beauty.
I think Ava has paid for her sins; her crimes, as it is.
We are witnessing the change in her daily. She is humbled by the tragedy that befell her, albeit by her own hand. She is repentant….I truly believe that. And, that is a cleansing; that is, fessing up to herself and stick to her resolution of staying clean.
The difference is; Sonny is not sorry about anything!!!! Oh, he wants to quit his wicked ways, but not once does he show any kind of contrition…..which tells me he learned squat by this latest experience.
His brush with death, more than once, taught him nothing, except more arrogance….thinking that stepping away will pave the way to absolution—he did pray to the Almighty, afterall. Right !!

Celia, I can’t remember which episode last week I was watching over the weekend, Tuesday or Wednesday (?), where Carly rushes into the Corinthos Compound and informs Michael (and Nelle) that (once again) the Dimpled Don will survive his latest brush with death. Oh, how they rejoiced! I remember thinking, the other characters are always spouting off on what a wonderful mother Carly is, how she puts her children first, blah, blah. Yet, she thinks nothing of having to update her child that his adoptive father will survive the latest mob brutality. The storylines and the writing is just so stupid, lately. How many times has Sonny threatened to walk away from “the business” only to be pulled right back in?

FV you are delusional if you think Hayden’s story has run is course, there’s a marriage, a baby, a half sister, which is a lot more sorry than stupid Man Landers. Why not get rid of Amy of Valerie, both are useless as is Auntie Stella. Seriously, you really missed the boat on this. Could care less if Steve come back. You don’t want a Hayden character but you want 2 Jason’s. Stupid, Dont go crying to the fans to save you when this show gets canceled.

At one point, didn’t Heather say that her cousin Susan was pregnant with twins, one being Jason and the other being Franco. We know she was lying about Franco being Jason’s brother, but perhaps there was a twin.

Please somehow revive STONe and bring him back – what a storyline that would be – brin Steve Burton back as the twin brother to this fake Jason – been watching since the beginning – sometimes a little disappointing but I am an avid viewer

Bringing Stone back would be just as bad as Erica’s unabortion child Josh on AMC. Writers typically don’t mess with landmark storylines. Stone and BJ’s deaths were the signature moments of GH in the 90s.

I LOVED the Erica unabortion story! It was bracing, polarizing, and such a win for people who do not believe or endorse murdering children in the womb! It is too bad that the character was hampered by bad writing and ultimately killed off because the second actor to play him was very charismatic and has gone onto movies. All that story proved is a very sad fact…it is legal to murder children, but not legal to murder adults.

Jovin replied August 17th, 2017 at 11:03 am

Agreed…you cannot bring Stone back. A twin, a look alike, sure. But why? Why now? Robin rarely appears….she is happily married. The magic came. And the magic is gone 22 years later. Some of the memories are awesome!!

dmr replied August 24th, 2017 at 8:44 am

AGREED, that was an extremely ridiculous storyline on AMC-cartoonish. Erica’s abortion storyline in the 70′s was “of the times” and ground-breaking television, no matter what side of the issue you were on.

I’m sorry I don’t agree with Frank. Rebecca is character Hayden was related to Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a boring character there’s no space to her except for Franco. They could have very well had her on the show as her sister and develop a close relationship and a bond. They robbed us of that. I’m not a fan of the character Sam although she is old character. She has no purpose she’s always depressed. How many other characters on GH that seemed to go nowhere.? I hope that Frank changes his mind when he sees us fans pleading with him.

Karen, I could NOT agree with you MORE! I find Elizabeth to be extremely boring, have for years, and never understood the appeal of the character or the actress. As for Monotone Sam, Good GAWD, the character is so depressing, exudes absolutely no excitement, and is as boring as her wardrobe.

So glad GH brought Steve Burton back as the ‘real’ Jason Morgan. Do not care for Billy Miller’s Jason. He is too soft and mumbles constantly. Sam and Drew are the most boring couple on GH. Wish Billy would get a prime time gig and leave.

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The Young and the Restless is gearing up for its 45th anniversary the week of March 26th, with this blast from the past look featuring several of former cast members who are making a return. Check it out below via these retro clips, and let us know who you are looking forward to seeing back in GC? Leave a comment »